The Limestone Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs on the turf held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The event currently offers a purse of $350,000.
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Keeneland Racecourse Lexington, Kentucky United States |
| Inaugurated | 2019 (as Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Sponsor | FanDuel (since 2022) |
| Website | Keeneland |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 5+1⁄2 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-old fillies |
| Weight | 123 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | US$350,000 (2026) |
History
editThe event is named after the Lexington Limestone, a prominent geologic formation that heavily influenced both the surface topography and economy of the region.[1]
In the inaugural running of the event was as the Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes on April 12, 2019, and the winner was the Irish-bred three-year-old filly Ginger Nut who ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario and won by one and a quarters lengths in a time of 1:03.53.[2]
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Keeneland did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened summer meeting.[3]
In 2024 the event was moved off the turf and held on a sloppy track. The event was won by Hot Beach by four lengths. The event lost its Listed status for the running.[4]
In 2026 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.[5]
Records
editSpeed record
- 5+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:01:99 – Slay the Day (2026)
Margins
- 4 lengths – Hot Beach (2024)
Most wins by a jockey
- 2 – Joel Rosario (2019, 2023)
- 2 – John R. Velazquez (2022, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer
- 3 – Brian A. Lynch (2021, 2024, 2026)
Most wins by an owner
- 2 – Stonestreet Stables (2022, 2023)
Winners
edit| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2026 | Slay the Day | John R. Velazquez | Brian A. Lynch | Flying Dutchmen Breeding & Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:01.99 | $328,150 | III | [6] | |
| 2025 | Shisospicy | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jose F. D'Angelo | Morplay Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.94 | $293,850 | Listed | [7] | |
| 2024 | Hot Beach | José Ortiz | Brian A. Lynch | Boardshorts Stable | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:05.70 | $244,563 | Off turf[8] | ||
| 2023 | Love Reigns (IRE) | Joel Rosario | Wesley A. Ward | Stonestreet Stables | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.45 | $208,188 | Listed | [9] | |
| 2022 | Ruthin (GB) | John R. Velazquez | Wesley A. Ward | Stonestreet Stables | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.33 | $155,100 | Listed | [10] | |
| Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2021 | Tobys Heart | Javier Castellano | Brian A. Lynch | Gary Barber, Terry Hamilton & Brian A. Lynch | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.29 | $100,000 | [11] | ||
| 2020 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2019 | Ginger Nut (IRE) | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.53 | $100,000 | [2] | ||
Legend:
Dirt
Turf
See also
editExternal sites
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Bluegrass Region". University of Kentucky. 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- 1 2 "2019 TVG Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes Black Type – (race 7)". Equibase. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "Spectacular Racing Generates Total Handle of $63 Million as Historic Keeneland Summer Meet Concludes". keeneland.com. July 12, 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ↑ Rollins, Molly (12 April 2026). "Hot Beach Splashes Home in Limestone Omaha Beach filly seized the early lead and never looked back April 12 at Keeneland". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2026". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
- ↑ "2026 FanDuel Limestone Stakes Grade 3 - (Race 7)". Equibase. 10 April 2026. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "2025 FanDuel Limestone Stakes Listed – (race 7)". Equibase. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "2024 FanDuel Limestone Stakes Black Type – (race 7)". Equibase. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "2023 FanDuel Limestone Stakes Listed – (race 7)". Equibase. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "2022 TVG Limestone Stakes Listed – (race 7)". Equibase. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "2021 TVG Limestone Turf Sprint Stakes Black Type – (race 7)". Equibase. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2026.